NY Knicks: Why extending Julius Randle is an easy decision

The year is 2021, the NY Knicks are in the playoffs and they have a 26-year-old all-star named Julius Randle leading the charge. Randle has been the leader of a young New York team that not only exceeded their lowly preseason expectations but finds itself with the potential to have homecourt advantage in a playoff series. This has been a crazy year.

Julius Randle’s transformation has coincided with the Knicks’ transformation. On the 2nd year of his 3-year 62.1 million dollar contract, Randle has asserted himself as the leader of the current team and potentially their leader for the future. There is now a report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that New York plans to discuss an extension with Julius Randle in the offseason. 

Julius Randle has been the player the NY Knicks have been waiting for

Turning the New York Knicks into a contender has always seemed like the most daunting assignment in all of American sports. A city with an enormous, passionate fanbase that has been so important to basketball, that has been so deprived of anything close to winning and functionality and is desperate for a change. Julius Randle has not just handled the outside factors of playing for New York, he’s fully embraced the challenge.

Let’s just lay it out simply: The NY Knicks have an elite player at the center of a winning season who’s just entering his prime and loves being here.

So what would a contract extension look like?

NY Knicks: Julius Randle has dealt with the highs and lows of New York

Randle’s first year in New York was not easy. Already entering the season with the label of a free agency “consolation prize”, his big role with the team was under the microscope of yet another unsuccessful season.

It’s hard to find any prognosticator who saw Julius Randle’s transformation coming but here we are. His 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game have him as the front runner for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

Both his shift of play on the court and the attitude from fans and analysts have been a complete 180. Not only is Randle a reliable scorer and bullish rebounder but he’s evolved into a facilitator as well. The Knicks, a team without any notable playmakers, have been able to find a 6’8 250lb table-setter in Randle.

So what would a contract extension look like?

The NY Knicks can offer a maximum veteran extension to Randle of 5-years, $126.2 million. They cannot currently offer him any more money because of the fact that his initial contract was just for 3-years. Contracts can only be negotiated through the team’s cap space if the initial deal was 4+ years.

The other option for Randle would be to wait another season and go for the max contract in 2022 which starts at 30% of the cap space. That deal could potentially be close to 5-years, $201.5 million.

It’s a significant pay increase, but Randle could also just go for the immediate $126.2 million this offseason and minimize the risk of his next contract in case of injury.

New York has a star at Madison Square Garden who actually plays for their team… it might be wise to keep him. Let’s look at how he stacks up with other players.

NY Knicks: Can Julius Randle become a perennial All-Star?

With NBA All-Star already under his belt, Julius Randle will soon add NBA’s Most Improved Player and an All-NBA team selection to his resume. I fully expect Randle to land on the 2nd or 3rd team.

The biggest argument against giving big money to Randle would be the idea that he will regress. That the return of 2019-20 Julius Randle is more likely to come back than the 2020-21 version.

To me, that argument seems to come from people who check box scores and haven’t actually followed Randle’s journey, haven’t examined his improvements, or factored in the environment around him. You’re talking about someone who is just now hitting their prime and has reinvented his game.

Randle has put a ton of work into how he operates out of the post. From finding his favorite spots on the floor to becoming more effective with his cross-court passes, Randle has become one of the most dynamic frontcourt hubs of offense in the league.

The number of ways in which he can positively impact the game has shown up in plenty of all-encompassing metrics. (10th in the league in VORP, 15th in Player Impact Estimate)

Let’s also take into consideration that this is just the first year of Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff and Leon Rose’s front office. This new environment has helped nurture Randle into a high-level player, and we know that he has played on some pretty atrocious teams in recent years.

One of the major keys to the Knicks’ success on offense this season has been floor-spacing. The floor-spacing isn’t just about the improved quality and quantity of outside shooting, it’s about the unclogged paint and increased playmaking.

Randle thrives when he’s able to maximize his strength. An unclogged paint gives him room to bully people on his way to the rim and it forces defenses to leave other Knicks open as they struggle to contain him. Not only can he easily get to the rim, but he’s also been an automatic shooter. I mentioned the playmaking already, I can keep going…

Is this scheme and strategy going to change? The new NY Knicks coaching staff is going to be sticking around for a while, and the slower-paced half-court offense is staying with them.

It’s not just about the numbers and winning, it’s about sustainability. Julius Randle has had injuries in his past, but there are plenty of indications that his game should age well.

Randle has notably been dedicated to taking care of his body. His supreme conditioning, stocky build, and finesse are all terrific indicators that he will be able to withstand the work that comes with being a star in the NBA.

His play on the court will always be paramount, but let’s talk about something else – How Julius Randle has embraced the city of New York.

Julius Randle’s heart is with the NY Knicks

Being the leader of the Knicks is more than being an elite player. It requires the utmost mental fortitude, composure, and exemplary leadership. If you love the city, the city will love you back. If you can be “the guy” on the New York Knicks, you will be one of the most celebrated athletes in pro sports.

We all read his Player’s Tribune article. Julius Randle has endured intense suffering, doubt, and frustration to get to where he’s at now. The transformation has not only been his play on the court but his growth into a leadership position. He’s taken the team’s younger players under his wing and instilled in them the monster they could build together in New York.

From wearing a Dipset shirt in his first-ever appearance as a NY Knick in the stands at the 2019 summer league to being vocal about how much he loves being the leader of New York basketball… can we pinch ourselves for a second? Throw some cold water on our face? Is this not what we’ve been dreaming about?

I’m not just talking about the success of the season, I’m talking about having an All-Star player who LOVES being here. Someone who wants to win for the city. Someone who is preaching about the culture of New York to the younger guys. He says all the right things. Most importantly, he’s been the player who has finally made the NY Knicks an attractive destination.

So I don’t want to hear about other “stars”. I don’t want to hear about “cap space”. I don’t want to hear about “slight overpay”.

Julius Randle has essentially arisen from the ashes of a typical chaotic Knicks mess and blossomed into the centerpiece of a top-10 team in the league.

A team that has been a laughing stock for decades. A team who has been the but end of jokes not only for their lackluster play on the court but the wild media created imaginations of magically acquiring superstars to revive New York basketball.

Now, they have someone who has not only repaired the actual basketball product but has restored the allure of playing for the NY Knicks. This is just the first year of the transformation and the foundation is set.

Pay this man whatever he wants.